Oil tank



Aug. 30, 1932. PAGE, JR 1,874,605

OIL TANK Filed May 25, 1930 INVENTOR 650/?65 4. P146 E Jr.

ATTORN EY Patented Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT err-nos v GEORGE A. PAGE, OF FREEPORT, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB T OURTISS AEROPLANE & MOTOR COMPANY, INCL A. CORPORATION OF NEW ,YOBK

OIL TANK Application filed Kay 28, 1980. gerlal I10. 455,008.

My invention relates to lubrication systems for internal combustion engines and especially to lubrication systems for engines of the type which are used in aircraft. Specifical- 1y, it relates to an improved oil tank to be used in such a lubrication system.

It was usually necessary prior to my in vention, that motors for aircraft should be run for a considerable period of time before I. the flight in order that the parts and especially the oil thereof should be warmed sufficiently. This warming up process was necessary .in order to avoid injury to the motor by running it at operating speeds before the oil became sufliciently warmed. Also in cold weatherit was often very difficult to start aeronautical motors due to the facts that before starting a motor, the oil is usually cold and therefore relatively viscous and difiicult to move, and that substantially the whole quantity of oil had to be warmed before the engine became relatively easy to turn over.

One of the objects of my invention is'to decrease wear upon such motors incident to .using them at the usual operating speeds with the oil im roperly warmed.

, A further ob ect of my invention is to decrease the difficulties of starting aeronautical motors in cold weather. Further objects will be apparent from a reading of the subjoined specification and claims and from a consideration of the accompanying drawing.

In order to e lain the invention more clearl one emb iment thereof is shown in said rawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of an oil tank constructed according to my invention but with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 33 of Fi 1.

Regarring in detail to the drawing wherein like reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar parts, I have shown an oil tank generally designated 11 and of substantially conventional shape. Therein, I have provided baflies 12, 13, 14 and 15. The baffles 12 and 13 are alike and baflle 12 is shown more clearly in Fig. 2. As shown these baffles are of substantially the same shape as the tank and are so situated as to separate the tank into several compartments or sections such as 16 and 17. Together with baffle 14 they also form section 18. Both baflies are provided with small openings such as the openings 21 and 22 by which oil may at times flow from the compartments 16 and 18 into the compartment 17 or from the compartment 17 into the compartments 18 and 16. As shown, these openings are of constricted size so that there will never be an excessive amount of oil flowing from the compartments 18 and 16 into the compartment 17. Moreover while the oil is cold the size of the openings substantially prevents the passage of any oil from compartments 18 and 16 into compartment 17. However, as soon as the oil becomes warm the size of the holes 21 and 22 is suificient to supply any oil needed for replenishing the oil destroyed by operation of the motor.

The baflies 14 and 15 are alike and baflie 14 is shown more clearly in Fig. 3. They separate the tank to form two additional sections or compartments 19 and 20. They are provided with holes 23 and 24 shaped similarly to openings 21 and 22 and in addition have relatively large holes such as holes 25, 26 and 27. Thereby, substantially free movement of oil is allowed between the compartments 18, 19 and 20. The baflles 14 and 15, however, prevent undue sloshing of the oil within the tank and consequent changesin the center of gravity which might have a harmful influence upon the flight of the airplane. Moreover, the baflies 14 and 15 as well as the baflies 12 and 13, provide support for the walls of the tank and add strength thereto.

As may be seen from an inspection of Fig.

l'th'e baflles 12 and 13 are positioned comparatively close together so that the compartment 17 is of relatively narrow width. Aligned with the compartment 17 is an inlet conduit 28 and an outlet conduit 29 by-which oil is delivered from and to the engine, respectively. It may be thus seen that until the oil becomes warm, substantially the only oil supplied to the engine will be that which is in the relatively smalicoinpartment 17 and in the pipes 28 and 29. It can be understood that this 011 will be yery-quickly raised to operating temto warm W] l be obviated, As theoil in the other Compartments becomes warmer through the conduction of heat through the baflles 12 and 13 and through convection in the compartmentsl 16, 18, 19 and 20, more oil may be drawn in through the small openings 21and used oil. A vent tube 31 and a filler tube 32 are also provided. The

latter'extends through the compartment 16 and is secured to the bafile 12 for support but doesnot extend through the baflie.

The operation of a lubricatlon system constructed according to my invention is substantially as follows: As soon as the motor is started, oil is pumped from the compartment 17 through the conduit 29 to the motor and there is warmed, as it is used, by the heat of the motor. Thereafter, it is returned to the compartment 17 through the conduit 28 and passes down and again is drawn through the motor by the pump. Thus, the small quantity .of oil which is in the compartment 17, the conduits 28 and 29, and themotor, will be warmed in a relatively short time and it will not be necessary to run the motor for so long a time in the warming up process. The oil is I soon warmed to a temperature which allows operation of the motor at usual operating speeds and the aerial vehicle may take ofi.

Thereafter, the oil in the compartments l6,

18, 1 9 and 20 is warmed by conduction and convection and will be drawn in and used to replenish the oil used up in the operation of the motor. w

T have shown the tank so constructed that when the motor is cold substantially all of the oil passes. between the bafiies l2 and 13. It is clear that a pipe having perforations of suitable size might be substituted for the baffles 12 and 13 without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that such a construction should be I coveredby the appended claims.

It is to be understood, moreover, that the above described embodiment of the invention is for thepu'rpose of illustration only and various other changes may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

A I claim as my invention:

1. In a lubrication system, a tank having aligned inlet and outlet openings, and a pair of bafiles within said tank substantially aligned with the walls of said openings at substantially diametrically opposed points.

2. In a lubrication system, an oil tank provided with aligned inlet and outlet openings, inlet and outlet 'tubes'connected to said openings respectively and a pair of battles substantially aligned with the walls of said openings at substantially, diametrically op posed points and said tubes. 7 3. In a lubrication systenn'a tank having peratures a d long delays waiting for the oil.

- -'and separating thetank into a plurality of sections one of which is located betweenthe baflies and communicates with the inlet and outlet openings, said baflies being provided -with openings leading to other sections of said tank at the top and bottom of said baflies only. 4. A tank having aligned inlet and outlet openings, 9. pair of battles within the tank substantially aligned with the walls of said openings at substantially diametrically opposed points, whereby a compartment is formed between said bafiles, and a filler tube connected to one of said baflles outside of said compartment to mutually interbrace one another. I

5. In a lubrication system, an oil tank,

aligned inlet and outlet tubes connected there- .to, and a pair of bafiies separating the section of the tank into-which both the inletand outlet tubes are connected-from the rest of the tank the baflles being aligned with the sides of the inlet and outlet/tubes.

6. In a lubrication system; an oil tank; aligned inlet and outlet tubes connected thereto; a pair of baflles separating the section of the tank into which both the inlet and outlet tubes are connected, from the rest of the tank; and additional ba-fiies provided to form other separate compartments within the tank.

7. In a lubrication system; an oil tank having inlet and outlet openings; means within the tank for dividing the tank into a plurality of sections, including an inner section into which the inlet and outlet openings directly open and an outer section into which said openings do not directly open, and for substantially preventing passage of cold oil from said outer section into said inner section, while allowing passage of warm oil from said .outer section into said inner section.

8. In a lubrication system; an oil tank, aligned inlet and outlet openings communicating therewith; and means interposed in said tank, for dividing the tank into a plurality of sections including an inner section into which open the inlet and outlet openings and outer sections positioned on opposite sides thereof, and for preventing the free passage of cold oil from said outer sections to the inner section while allowing substantially free passage of warm oil between said sections.

9. A tank comprising; a casing having walls; a baiile plate positioned within said casing; a filler tube passing through an outer wall of said casing and extending within the the walls of said openings at tank to contact with the baflle plate, said filler tube being provided with openin intermediate the casing wall and the liafile plate; and means for securing said filler tube 5 to the casing wall and to the bafile plate, whereby a firm support for said filler tube is. secured.

10. In a lubrication system; a tank having aligned inlet and outlet openings adapted to o communicate with the crank case of an internal combustion engine, and a relatively .narrow conduit having its opposite ends communicating with said inletand outlet openings respectivel [5 11. In a lubrication system, a tank having ali ed inlet and outlet openings, a pair of ba els each one of which is disposed on a side of an axis passing through the center of saidopenings substantially dlametrically 0p- 50 posite to the side of said axis on which the other bafile is disposed, said baflies extending to oints adjacent said openings.

11 testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

GEORGE A. PAGE, J n. 

